Humidifier system and apparatus



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HUMIDIPIBR SYSTEM yAND APPARATUS.

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R. O. ULBRIGH. v l HUMIDIFIBR-SYSTBM AND APPARATUS. 'N0. 572,780.

Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES 5 PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD C. ULBRICII, OF BOSTON,EMASSACIIUSETTS, ASSIGIIOR TO WILLIAM FIRTII, OF VINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,780, dated December 8, 1896.

Application led March 23, 1896.

To all whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, RICHARD C. ULBRICH, of Boston, county of Suolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Humidifier Systems and Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. Y

This invention relates to systems for moistening or humidifying the atmosphere of mills and the like and commonly known as humidier systems.

As at present usually installed humidifier systems comprise a plurality of humdifiers distributed throughout the mill or building and fed or supplied by a common water-pipe, the condensation or particles of water which do not pass off with the air being collected in the bottoms of the Various humidifiers, from which they are conducted away by or through a common return-pipe. This return is usuallymore or less sluggish, and, as I have found in practice, usually becomes clogged to a considerable extent with sediment, or in some cases completely stopped by the collection of sediment therein. In the systems as heretofore installed it has been impossible to blow out or free the various pipes of sediment, for the reason that vwater under press ure,which affords thefmost convenient means for cleaning the pipes, could not beforced through the same because of the absence of any means for preventing the water,when forced through the return-pipe, backing up into the humidi- -fiers. f

My invention has for one of its objects to overcome this defect by providing means whereby fluid or water under pressure may be forced through the entire system for the purpose of cleaning the same Without necessarily passing such fluid or water through the atomizing-nozzles and without danger of the water backing up into the humidifiers.

One part of my invention consists in providing suitable'valves lor means at opposite sides the humidiiers, whereby passage of fluid from either the supply or return pipes may be blocked, and providing at a suitable point a connection between the supply and the return pipes of the system with a suit- Serial No. 584,388. (No model.)

able valve controlling the same to enable fluid under pressure, introduced through the supply-pipe, to be passed through the latter and the return-pipe to free both from any sediment or obstacle.

My invention also comprehends a novel construction of humidifier apparatus to be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l,

in vertical section, shows a structure or mill equipped with a humidifier system embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a vertical section of a humidifier, such as may be employed in the system Fig. l.

v In the embodiment of my invention illustrated inthe drawings the structure or mill A is shown as provided with the main and second iioors d a' and roof a2, and suspended from the said roof and second floors, respectively, are the various humidifiers B, the same being of suitable or desired construction, such, for instance, as shown in Fig. 2.

The humidifier herein shown and embodying a part of my invention comprises a suitable casing, as 7s,-provided at its upper open end with a suitable bail fu, by which it may be suspended in suitable or desired position, and provided at its lower end with an outwardly and downwardlyflaring foot-flan ge 7c', supported by suit-able radial division plates or supports l, resting upon the upwardly-inclined flange or cone m, to which fiange 7c is firmly secured by suitable fastenings, as, for instance, the bolts n. Alip projecting inwardly at the bottom of the flange lo', serves to catch the drops of water which follow down the interior of the casing, from which it overflows or is conducted in suitable manner to the well formed by and within the conical base or ange m, from the lowest point in which leads the outlet t through a suitablythreaded nipple t. y

Within the casing and suitably supported upon the conical bottom m, as by the feet p', I have shown an annular cone or ring p, upon which rests the cone proper, p2, the latter being preferably provided at its upper end with a suitable handle (shown as an eye p3) by which it may be raised or removed from its seat on the ring p, it having suitable guides or holding devices (shown as feet p4) to retain it in position upon the ring p when in use, as in Fig. 2.

The outlet is provided with a suitable valve, herein shown as a screw-plug t2, (represented in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) by which it may be closed when desired, access to the outlet for closing and opening this valve being had through the top of the casing with the cone p2 removed.

The water-inlet f is shown as a suitable fitting secured in or to the bail b, it carrying a suitable depending lter or strainer f shown as interiorly threaded at its lower end to receive the threaded nipple f2, having a spraying outlet or nozzle at f3. Upon this nipple, which is shown as exteriorly threaded for its entire length, I have mounted the ring-like yoke f4, into or through which, at its lower end, is tapped a spraying device, shown as a screw f5, having its pointed end f6 directly opposite and opposed to the delivery-nozzle f2, so that water issuing through the said noz- Zle will be sprayed in umbrella-like form downwardly and outwardly toward the interior walls of the casing, to thereby serve not only to draw air downwardly through and withinl the said casing, but also to charge such air with moisture in desired quantity, the moistened air being directed by the cone p2 toward the opening between the iange 7c and base m, through which said air escapes into the room.

The spraying device herein shown has a capacity of wide adjustment, for the nipple f2 is adjustable vertically in the casing f to vary the height of the spray, and the yoke f4 is adjustable on the nipple, and the sprayingscrew f is adjustable in the yoke, a lock-nut f7 being herein provided to retain the yoke in locked position on the nipple, or it may be used to retain the nipple in locked position in the shell f.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the several humidiiiers are supplied with the humidifying fluid, usually water, through the supply-pipes c c, shown as leading from a common standpipe c', connected .with a suitable supply, as the street-main, the returns d, connected with the outlets t of the several humidifiers, being shown as joined to the common return-pipes d', also shown as connected with a common stand or return pipe d2. Each of the humidifiers is shown as provided with a suitable usual inlet-valve ZJ', controlling the supply of humidifying'fluid to the same. At the ends of the respective lines of pipes c and d' I have joined the same by suitable connections e e, controlled by valves c of suitable or desired construction.

In the normal operation of the system the valves e are closed and the valves b and t2 of the several apparatus are maintained open, the humidifying fluid then flowing through the supply-pipes to the several humidiiers, the condensation and particles of fluid not taken up by the air being conducted through the returns d and d to a suitable dischargepoint.

Vhen any of the pipes of the system become clogged or stopped by reason of the deposit of sediment or other obstacles therein, due to the slow movement of the humidifying fluid therethrough, the inlet and outlet valves b and t2 for the several humidiiiers may be closed to prevent the fluid under pressure from reaching atomizing-nozzles or the interior of the casings and the valves e opened, when fluid, such as water, under pressure may be forced rapidly through the supply-pipes and through the connections e e to and back through the return-pipes for the purpose of removing any sediment or obstacles therein. The pipes having been thoroughly cleaned the valves c are closed and the valves b and t2 opened and the system operated as before.

My invention is not limited to the particu-k lar construction or arrangement herein shown, nor to its use in connection with any mill or other building in particular, nor in connection with any particular construction of herein-dened apparatus, one part of my invention, broadly stated, lying in a connection independent of the humidiiers between the inlet or supply and outlet or return pipes of the system, whereby fluid under pressure may be forced rapidly through the said pipes for the purpose of cleaning the same.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1s Y v l. In a humidifier system, the combination with one or more humidiiiers, and inlet and return pipes for the same, of a connection independent of said humidifiers, or either of them, between the inlet and supply pipes, and means to control said connections, substantially as described.

2. In a humidifier system, the combination with one or more usual humidifiers, and inlet and return pipes for the same, of one or more connections between the said inlet and IOO IIO

return pipes and independent of said humidi- 4. A humidier apparatus containing a suitv able casin g, a spraying device arranged therein, and an outlet at or near the bottom of said casing, and a ring supported above the bottom of said casing, and a removable cone arranged on said ring and normally covering said outlet, substantially as described.

5. A humidifier apparatus containing a suitable casing, a spraying device arranged therein, an outlet at the bottom of the casing, a

IZO

valve controlling the same, and a removable cone normally covering said outlet and its valve removal of the cone permitting the free Io in g-yoke threaded on said nozzle, and a spraying screw or point threaded in said yoke, all to operate, `substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my v name to `this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RICHARD C. ULBRICH. W'itnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, LAURA S. MANIX. 

